Preparation of strip-like material for processing



3,042,334 PREPARATION OF STRIP-LIKE MATERIAL FOR PROCESSING Filed June 5, 1959 R. J. ERSKINE July 3, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Robert J. Erskine R. J. ERSKINE July 3, 1962 PREPARATION OF STRIP-LIKE MATERIAL FOR PROCESSING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1959 INVENTOR Robert J. Erskine "ED E; Nm

y 1962 R. J. ERSKINE 3,042,334

PREPARATION OF STRIP-LIKE MATERIAL FOR PROCESSING Filed June 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig .3A.

X INVENTOR Robert J. Erskine 3,042,334 PREPARATIGN OF STRIP-LIKE MATERIAL FOR PROCESSING Robert J. Erskine, Howland Township, Trumbull County,

Gino, assignor to The Wean Engineering Company,

Inc., Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 5, 1959, Ser. No. 818,458 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-79) This invention relates to the preparation of strip-like material for processing in continuous processing lines by operations upon such material in advance of its entry into the line.

It has heretofore been well-known to process metallic strip material and the like in continuous processing lines. In some instances, the strip material is supplied to the line in coils of relatively short length, which coils are joined end to end for the purpose 'of forming a continuous strip for passage through the treating section of the processing line. That practice is followed, for example, in lines for pickling hot-rolled steel strip. Such strip is of relatively heavy gauge-perhaps one-quarter inch or thicker-with the result that coils of such strip are necessarily of limited length. The strip is in rough form and ordinarily must be cropped at its ends to discard material unsuited for pickling and for subsequent cold rolling operations. A pickling line of well-known design is shown, for example, in Wean and McArthur Patent 2,196,600.

Previous pickling lines have embodied coil holding means to feed the strip into the line and a shear placed in the line subsequent thereto for cutting unsound material from the leading and trailing ends of each length of strip. The unsound sections which must be cut from the strip before it is pickled include irregularities at each end of the strip where the metal has been subjected to the extreme flow and unwanted deformation resulting from the initial and terminal bites of the hot rolling mill on the strip and from handling of the strip by gripping it at those ends. In some instances, additional flaws may appear in the strip, particularly localized in the leading end, due to the inclusion of pipe, blowholes, and the like, which are formed in the ingot and then rolled into the strip. When a coil of strip is fed into a conventional line, such imperfections are ordinarily cut from the leading end of the strip which is then joined to the end of the immediately preceding coil by welding or stitching. As the end of the coil comes to the shear it is squared and unsound material is cut from that end which is then held between pinch rolls while a succeeding coil is fed into the line and prepared for joining thereto. *It is apparent that continuous movement of strip through the line must be halted while the trailing end of one length and the leading end of the next length are prepared for joining and are then joined. Slack is accumulated in pits or the like to avoid start-and-stop operation in the processing section, but the overall speed is necessarily reduced by the operations on the ends of the lengths of strip.

I prepare metallic strip material and the like for processing by placing a coil thereof with its axis in a horizontal plane, partially unwinding the coil, cutting unsound metal therefrom, and then transferring it to another position for feeding into the line. I preferably place the coil in an unwinding position in advance of the line aligned with the axis of said line with the axis of the coil paralleling the axis of the line and thereupon partially unwind the coil, remove unsound metal from an end thereof, rewind the coil, and then transfer it to a coil processing or line feeding station where the coil is unwound and fed into the line. I preferably rotate the coil intermediate the unwinding position and the coil processing or line feeding station. I preferably provide "ice a coil receiving station, first coil transfer means in advance of a coil processing station shiftable between the coil receiving station and a coil unwinding station and second coil transfer means shiftable between the coil unwinding station and the coil processing station for transfer of coils therebetween. I preferably provide means at the coil unwinding station to at least partially unwind coils and extend the strip therefrom, and shear means adjacent the coil unwinding station to cut unsound metal from the extended end of a coil while it is positioned at the coil unwinding station. I further preferably provide coil opening means adjacent the strip unwinding station. I further preferably provide means to rotate the coil intermediate the coil unwinding station and the coil processing station.

Other details, objects and advantages of my invention Will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a present preferred embodiment of my invention in which- FIGURE 1 is a plan view of apparatus for the practice of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3A is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3B is an extension at line XX of FIGURE 3A also taken along line IlI-III of FIGURE 1.

Coils of steel strip are successively delivered in upended position, indicated at 1, with their axes vertical, by a conveyor 2 mounted below the mill floor line 3. The conveyor deposits the coil on arms 4 and 5 extending from a generally L-shaped frame 6 which is pivotally mounted for rotation in bearings 7. Arms 8 and 9 extend from frame 6 in a plane at right angles to the plane formed by arms 4 and 5. A crank arm 10 extends from frame 6 and is pivotally connected to a piston rod 11 extending from a hydraulic cylinder 12. Rotation of frame 6 about its rotational axis 13 will move the coil from position 1 in which its axis is vertical and place it in position 14 at a coil receiving station with its axis generally horizontal. The coil is then supported by arms 8 and 9.

A track comprising two rails 15 is placed in a pit 16. A first coil transfer car 17 is mounted upon rails 15 for movement therealong. It carries a coil supporting pedestal 18 which may be elevated to lift the coil in position 14 above arms 8 and 9 for transfer of the coil. A second coil transfer car 19 is coupled to car 17 for movement along rails 15. A piston rod 20 fitted in hydraulic cylinder 21 is connected to transfer car 19. Cars 17 and 19 are shiftable along track 15 between the positions in which they are'shown in FIGURE 2 at one extreme and indicated in chain line in FIGURE 2 at the other extreme.

A coil supporting pedestal member 22 is rotatably mounted on car 19, supporting rollers 23 being provided. The upper surface of pedestal member 22 can be elevated upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 2. On its upper surface, coil supporitng rollers 24 and 25 are rotatably mounted.

A coil opening and unwinding device is provided at a coil unwinding station to unwind coils of strip which have been placed in position 26. A pair of driven coil supporting rolls 27 driven by motors 28 through associated gear trains and mounted outwardly of rollers 24 and 25. A housing 29 is mounted to one side of the line of travel of transfer cars 17 and 19 on a transverse axis intersecting coil supporting rollers 27 and supports a pointed coil opening tool 30 which is pivotally mounted at 31 for pivotal withdrawal upwardly and outwardly away from the coil in position 215. An overhanging arm 32 is pivotally. connected to housing 29 at 33 and has its pivotal movement controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 34. A coil traction roll 35 is mounted on the end of arm 32 and is driven by motor 36 through endless chain 37. A plurality of strip guiding and engaging rolls 38 are mounted within housing 29 and are driven by motor 39 in either direction through an associated drive train.

A reciprocating shear 40 is aligned with housing 2 to receive strip extended outwardly from the housing between rolls 3% along a strip pass line 4-1. The shear comprises a housing 42 in which a fixed upper knife 43 and a reciprocating lower knife 44 are mounted. Knife 44 is mounted on a crank 45 of rotating shaft 46 which is driven by a motor 47 through an associated gear train.

A processing uncoiler 48 of well-known design is placed adjacent position 19a of coil transfer car 19. Coils are delivered within the processing uncoiler in position 49 and are then supported by a mandrel within the processing uncoiler in the conventional manner. The coil is then unwound and fed into the line being cold worked in processing uncoiler 48 for more effective pickling thereafter. A crop shear 51 and a welder 52 or stitcher are both placed in the line beyond the uncoiler. The axis of the line is indicated by dotted line 50 (FIGURE 1).

In operation, a coil of strip is delivered at position 1 with its axis vertical and is deposited upon arms 4 and 5. Hydraulic cylinder 12 is then energized to rotate frame 6 through a right angle, moving the coil to position 14 with its axis horizontal. Pedestal 18 is elevated to lift the coil from arms 8 and 9, and pressure is supplied to hydraulic cylinder 21, thereby moving transfer cars 17 and 19 until transfer car 17 is positioned with pedestal 18 intermediate coil supporting rollers 27. Pedestal 18 is then lowered, depositing the coil on rollers 27; Tool 30 is then moved into position as shown in FIGURE 3A, and arm 32 is lowered to bring traction roll 35 into contact with the coil. Rollers 27 and 35 are then operated to rotate the coil in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3A. When the exposed end of the wound coil is rotated to reach tool 30, the tool will be forced under that end which will then be deflected and by further rotation of the coil will be urged between rolls 38. Rolls 38 are driven, thereby gripping and flattening the extended end of the strip and extending it outwardly along pass line 41 until it comes between knives 43 and 44 of shear 40. The shear is then operated to make a series of successive cuts cropping short lengths from the extended end of the strip. The strip is continuously inspected and the extending and shearing are continued until it appears that the metal is sound and without flaws across its entire width. In this manner, the defective end portion of the strip is removed. Thereupon, rolls 2'7, 35, and 38 are reversed and the extended strip is rewound onto the coil. Arm 32 and traction roll 35 cooperate with the coil as it is rotated to aid in rewinding of the extended strip on the coil.

During the foregoing operation on the coil at position 26, coil transfer cars 17 and 19 are shifted in a manner which is further described below, with the result that following rewinding of the strip on the coil in position 26, transfer car 19 is in position beneath the coil. The elevator is operated, raising rollers 24 and 25 to lift the coil from rollers 27. Hydraulic cylinder 21 is then energized to move transfer car 19 toward uncoiler 4-8. During the unwinding, shearing, and rewinding of the coil in position 26, a subsequent coil is placed upon arms 4 and and upended to position 14 above transfer car 17. Pedestal 18 is elevated. The transfer cars are then operated to place the new coil in unwinding position, at which time the cropped coil will be resting on transfer car 19 intermediate the unwinding station and processing uncoiler 48. Pedestal 18 is lowered in the manner heretofore described, placing the next coil in position for shearing of its end. The upper portion of transfer car 1? is rotated, placing the coil which is mounted thereon with its axis arranged longitudinally of the axis of the processing line. Cylinder 211' is then energized to move the coil into processing uncoiler 48 where it is unloaded from transfer car 1? and passed through the processing uncoiler into the line. Transfer cars 17 and 19 are then returned to the position shown in FIGURE 2.

As the leading end of the strip is fed into the line, its leading end is passed immediately to the welder or stitcher and joined to the trailing end of the preceding length of strip. The strip is then fed into the line until its end is reached, at which point it is cropped and squared by shear 51 and then held in position to be joined to the next succeeding length of strip by welder 52. The next succeeding coil has in the meantime been subjected to the process described above, with the result that its. leading end is prepared and ready for joining as promptly as it can be placed in position for joining. Thus, the time required to join the successive lengths of strip is: reduced by the time required for preparation of the leading end of each length of strip, for the reason that the strip is prepared in advance of the time it is fed into the line proper. The result is that less time is required tov join the strips end to end, and it is accordingly possible to operate the line with a greater output speed for the reason that a greater length of strip can be joined end to end for passage through it in a given amount of time.

While I have illustrated and described a present preferred embodiment of my invention and of methods of practicing the same, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself thereto and that the invention may be other wise variously practiced within the scope of the follow-- ing claims.

I claim:

1. The method of preparing a coil of metallic stripmaterial for processing, which comprises placing the coil with its axis in a generally horizontal plane, partially unwinding the coil, cutting unsound metal from the unwound end of the strip material, rewinding the extended? strip material on the coil, transferring the coil to another position, andthen unwinding the coil and feeding; the; strip into a processing line.

2. The method of preparing a coil of metallic strip material for processing, which comprises placing the coil in an unwinding position with its axis in a generally horizontal plane, unwinding the coil sufliciently to ex-- pose a length of strip material, cutting unsound metal from the end of the exposed strip material, rewinding the coil, transferring the coil to a processing position, and then feeding the strip material into the processing line.

3. The method of preparing a coil of metallic strip material for processing, which comprises placing the coil. in an unwinding position with its axis generally horizontal and arranged longitudinally of a strip processing line, partially unwinding the coil and extending and flattening a portion of the strip at its exposed end, cutting unsound metal from the exposed end of the strip, rewinding the coil,

transferring the strip to a processing position and rotating the coil until its axis is generally longitudinal of the strip processing line, and then feeding the coiled material into the processing line.

4. The method of preparing metallic strip material for processing, which strip material is formed in a coil, which comprises partially unwinding the coil thereby extending a portion of the strip material from the coil, cutting unsound material from the end of the extended strip until the exposed strip end is of sound material, rewinding the coil, transferring the coil to another position, and there unwinding it and joining the leading end to the trailing end of a previously prepared coil for feeding into a processing line.

5. The method of preparing hot rolled strip for pickling, which comprises placing a coil of strip at a position in advance of a strip pickling line with its axis extending generally longitudinally of the line, partially unwinding the coil and extending an end thereof, cutting off increments from the extended end of the strip until the extended strip end is of sound material, rewinding the coil, rotating the coil until its axis extends transversely of the line and placing it in a position at the entry end of the line, and unwinding the coil and joining it end to end with a previously prepared coil for feeding into the line.

6. The method of preparing hot rolled strip for pickling, which comprises delivering a coil of strip to a first position in advance of a pickling line with its axis vertical, upending the coil to place its axis in a horizontal plane and transferring it to a second position with its axis extending longitudinally of the line, partially unwinding the coil thereby extending the exposed end of the strip, cutting unsound material from the extended strip, rewinding the coil, transferring the coil to a third position at the entry end of the line, rotating the axis of the coil intermediate the second and third positions whereby the third position of the coil is with its axis extending transversely of the line, and then unwinding the coil and joining its leading end to the trailing end of the previously prepared coil for processing in the line.

7. Apparatus for preparing a coil of metallic strip material for processing comprising, in combination, a coil receiving station, a coil unwinding station, first coil transfer means disposed in advance of a strip processing line and shiftable between the coil receiving station and the coil unwinding station, means to deliver coils of strip material to the coil receiving station, coil opening means disposed adjacent the coil unwinding station, shear means placed adjacent the coil opening means to receive strip therefrom, a line feeding station at the entry end of the processing line, second coil transfer means shiftable between the unwinding and said line feeding station, and shifting means in operative connection with the first coil transfer means and the second coil transfer means.

8. Apparatus for preparing metallic strip material for processing comprising, in combination, coil transfer means operable longitudinally of a strip processing line between a coil receiving station and a coil unwinding station, both said stations being in advance of the line, means to deliver coils of strip material to the coil receiving position, coil unwinding means placed transversely of the line adjacent the coil unwinding station, shear means placed to receive strip from the coil unwinding means and to shear unsound material from the end thereof, second coil transfer means operable between the coil unwinding station and a line feeding station and strip end joining means at the entry end of the line, and shifting means in operative connection with the first and the second coil transfer means for simultaneous movement thereof.

9. Apparatus for preparing hot rolled metallic strip material for pickling comprising, in combination, coil transfer means operable longitudinally of a strip processing line between a coil receiving station and a coil unwinding station and having a coil carrying position and an inactive position, both said stations being in advance of the line, means to deliver coils of strip material to the coil receiving position, coil unwinding means placed adjacent the coil unwinding station at one side thereof, shear means placed to receive strip from the coil unwinding means and to shear unsound material from the end thereof, second coil transfer means operable between the coil unwinding station and a processing station at the entry end of the line, said second coil transfer means having a coil carrying member mounted for vertical and for rotary movement, strip end to end joining means intermediate the processing station and the pickling section, and shifting means in operative connection with the first and the second coil transfer means for simultaneous movement thereof between their respective stations.

10. Apparatus for preparing metallic strip for pickling comprising, in combination, a coil receiving station, a coil unwinding station, a coil processing station from which coils are fed into the pickling line, strip end joining means intermediate the processing station and pickling line, means to deliver coils to the coil receiving station, first coil transfer means shiftable between the coil receiving station and the coil unwinding station, second coil transfer means shiftable between the coil unwinding station. and the coil processing station, and shear end crop means adjacent the coil unwinding station for cutting the exposed ends of coils at the coil unwinding station.

11. Apparatus for preparing metallic strip for pickling comprising, in combination, a coil receiving station, a coil unwinding station, a line feeding station, strip end joining means, means to deliver coils to the coil receiving station with their axes vertical, means at said receiving station to shift the coils to a horizontal axis position, first coil transfer means shiftable between the coil receiving station and the coil unwinding station for transfer of coils therebetween, second coil transfer means shiftable between the coil unwinding station and the line feeding station, and strip shear means adjacent the coil unwinding station whereby the exposed end of the coil is prepared for immediate joinder end to end in the pickling line.

12. Apparatus for preparaing metallic strip for pickling comprising, in combination, a coil receiving station, a coil unwinding station, a line feeding station and strip end joining means disposed along the axis of a pickling line in advance thereof, means to deliver coils to the coil receiving station with their axes vertical, means at said receiving station to upend said coils and place them with their axes horizontal and generally parallel to the axis of the line, first coil transfer means shiftable between the coil receiving station and the coil unwinding station, shear means adjacent the coil unwinding station for removal of unsound metal from the ends of coils at said station, second coil transfer means shiftable between the coil unwinding station and the line feeding station, and means to rotate the axis of each coil intermediate the coil unwinding station and the line feeding station whereby it is delivered to the line feeding station with its axis extending transversely of the axis of the pickling line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,196,600 Wean et al. Apr. 9, 1940 2,207,893 Nash et a1. July 16, 1940 2,267,036 McArthur Dec. 23, 1941 2,527,667 Wood Oct. 31, 1950 Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 93,358 involving Patent No. 3,042,334, R. J. Erskine, Preparation of StIlEl-llkfi material for processing, final judgment adverse to the patentee was rendered J u y 30, 1964, as to claims 3 and 7 [Ofiicial Gazette October 27, 1.964.] 

